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Vet Technician School
How to Find the Right One Near Pacifica California

Pacifica California dog with large ears with cone on headRealizing your lifelong dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Pacifica CA might at first seem like an overwhelming undertaking. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you must first locate and finally enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training and education. And so that you pick the right one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many future students begin their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their homes. Once they have found some local schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant considerations when evaluating vet technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are evaluating before you make a final choice. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll talk about the different duties of vet techs and the training options offered.

IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW

Vet Technician Degree Options

Pacifica California vet checking dog's blood pressure

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the primary determiner will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of duties that they can carry out within the Pacifica CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialty.

  • Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
  • Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and usually earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved functions, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
  • Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years. So the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Many may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Pacifica CA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Schools

Pacifica California cat in carrier in veterinary hospitalAt this point you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you would like to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Pacifica CA area as well as across the United States, you should ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a precondition for employment for many Pacifica CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinarian trade school or college and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with internet school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final tip, contact some Pacifica CA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs established with Pacifica CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A lower rate may suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Pacifica CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Pacifica CA colleges you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Pacifica CA home, you need to make certain that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's important that you determine if the veterinarian colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Pacifica CA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, sickness or family emergencies. You may discover that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Technologist in Pacifica

Enroll in the Best Pacifica Veterinary Technologist School

Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to beginning a gratifying career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into veterinary technician colleges must make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the best program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Pacifica California.



 

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